08/15/2011

HTC Vigor to be first Beats by Dre handset?

We got wind of the HTC Vigor back in July, when specs for the handset leaked out across the pond. From what we heard, gadget fans Stateside could look forward to a 1.5GHz processor, a 6MP camera and 720p video recording, and now we're hearing that it might also be the first HTC phone to profit from the company's recent partnering with ghetto fabulous headphone producer Beats by Dr. Dre.

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HTC announced earlier this week that the mobile maker would be partnering up with the good doctor to bring users a "superior mobile audio experience." Speaking on the partnership, HTC CEO Peter Chou said: "We obsess over every detail of a consumer’s mobile experience and audio is a critical part of that experience."

Since whispers of the Vigor first rustled down the T3 grapevine, more specs for the handset have been tentatively revealed. The 1280x720 pixel screen is said to be 4.3-inches across, putting it at the same size as the Galaxy S2. Under the hood, buyers will also get 1GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. We're also hearing that the camera, which we'd previously tipped to be 6MP, will actually pack a heftier 8MP, and will be accompanied by a 2MP front-facing camera for video calls. None of this, of course, is official as yet, but it looks to us like the Vigor is shaping up to be the new HTC flagship.

But for all the excitement about Dre and Chou's new business relationship, no-one seems at all sure what the coveted Beats technology will turn out to be. Are we talking about some new or tweaked internals, or will we simply see a pair of HTC and Beats-branded earbuds packaged with the handsets? More as we hear it.